Years ago while our children were growing up, I saved old Christmas cards in a shoebox with the intention of using them in craft projects.  That was back in the day when I was still optimistic about developing crafting skills.   Sigh.

That lonely shoebox sat there day in, day out, month in, month out.  For years.  In a cleaning frenzy, I finally threw it away.

Now it’s ‘in’ to be green and to recycle and reuse.  It’s also ‘in’ to make your own gift tags. So, I think I’ll start collecting cards once again.  There are so many beautiful Christmas ones that it’s a shame to throw them away.  However, this time, I’m going to focus on using them with my grandchildren.  (Is this my crafting self resurrecting its optimism?)

I’ve since learned two tricks of the trade in making the tags.  Before, it seemed that after snipping away, I wasn’t happy with how the picture looked on the tag.  So here’s the first trick.  Cut out a rectangle (or whatever shape you desire).  Then, with an X-acto knife, cut the inside away leaving about 1/4 inch.  This makes a small ‘picture frame.’  Then before you start cutting, you can hold your template over the card to get a good idea of what the tag would look like.  (This could save lots of grief . . . at least for me anyway . . .)

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of making the template, here’s the second trick.  Simply use your cookie cutters.  Hold the cookie cutter over the card to determine what portion of the picture you want to use.  When you’re ready, trace around the cookie cutter and cut out the tag.

I think using cookie cutters for making the tags with your grandchildren is much easier than making a template — unless you make the template beforehand.

If your still looking for ideas of things to do when the grandchildren come to visit this Christmas, you could make some tags with them.  Or, you can save your cards and make the tags next year.

Today is a hodgepodge of ideas that can’t be organized into one category.  But then, isn’t that how our lives are at this time of the year — scattered and unorganized?  (Well, at least mine is anyway . . .)

Here is a great idea for a stocking stuffer.  Just put sticky-backed Velcro circles on a ping pong or Wiffle ball, add a winter glove, and you’re done!  One pair of gloves gives you two gifts.  Can’t get much cheaper than that!  You might want to make a set to keep on hand (pun intended here, folks) when your grandchildren come to play at your house.  (I can see it now — Spencer, Natalie, and Simon tossing the ball to me while I sit in my rocking chair sipping hot cocoa.)  Click here for specific directions on making them.

(I’m thinking ahead to summer.  Wouldn’t it be fun to have some of these at a family reunion?  At your grandma camp? For a grandchild’s birthday party?  You might even want to have a contest to see who could be the Stickie Ball Champion.)

Will you have a Christmas family get together in the next few days?   Want to have an easy (and cheap) Christmas-y project for grandchildren to do? (Parents can participate, too, if they behave nice.)  You can make a plethora of these Ten Seconds Ornaments. You might want to sing Christmas songs while you’re making them.  Those of us who are craft-challenged shouldn’t have too hard of a time making these!  (The operative word here, folks, is shouldn’t.) You also might want to spend some time poking around the Dollar Store Craft site.  Lots of cheap and easy ideas there.

A game that fits inside an Altoids tin box. A miniature game.  Cute! The Little Game Box can be either a memory game or a treasure hunt game. You can download the labels, game sheets, and directions from this site. An easy last minute gift.  This is another site that you might want to spend some time on.

Now for some edible creativity.  When I saw these Santa and Rudolf pancakes, I instantly wanted to make some. Like, I didn’t want to wait until breakfast.  Nothing wrong with that, is there?  Why not also try your hand at making snowmen pancakes, Christmas tree pancakes, ornament pancakes, or gingermen pancakes?  Be sure to involve your grandchildren in the whole mess process.  What great kitchen fun — and a delight for grandchildren to eat.

Only 8 more days until Christmas!

Every holiday season, my work sponsors a ‘lean Santa’ program.  This is to help employees keep their weight within a 2 pound increase during the holidays by encouraging healthy eating and regular exercise at this time of year.  Do you know how hard it is to not gain weight over the holidays?

So, sometimes (though not really very often) I think that I should make a healthier version of the Cream Cheese Pie that I wrote about yesterday.  If you, too, are trying to be calorie conscious yet not wanting to sacrifice the taste (at least too much), you might be interested in this light version of the recipe.

Light Cream Cheese Pie

8 ounces cream cheese
8 ounces Cool Whip Lite
1/4 cup sugar
9 inch pie crust

Cream ingredients together and pour into pie shell.  Chill.  Serve with cherry pie, raspberry, blueberry, or apple pie filling — or drizzle chocolate and caramel ice cream topping on top.

This recipe is even easier to make than the original version.  So, let your grandchildren make this all on their own. They would be proud as punch to be the sole chef in making this pie!

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you know that your children and grandchildren will be coming for a holiday visit?  Food!  At least that’s what I think of right off the bat.  (Playing the Beatle’s Rock Band comes in a close second.)

If you’re a working grandma like me, you may be pinched for time to get all of the grocery shopping and cooking done before they arrive.  But, here’s a novel idea.  When doing your menu planning, be sure to include things that are very easy to make — and then have your grandchildren help you make them.  (Got that Spence, Natalie, and Simon?)  You’ll have bonding moments together and end up with something delightful to eat.

A Cream Cheese Pie is one of those simple to make and decadently rich to eat items but is fun to make with your grandchildren.  Here’s the recipe.

Cream Cheese Pie

1 eight ounce package of cream cheese
1 (fifteen ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup Real Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 nine-inch graham cracker crust pastry shell

toppings such as cherry, raspberry, blueberry, apple pie filling, or chocolate and caramel ice cream topping

In a glass bowl, soften cream cheese in a microwave for 30 seconds. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk.  Slowly add lemon juice.  Add vanilla.  Pour in pie shell and chill.

When ready to serve, drizzle the chocolate and caramel ice cream topping over top.  Or, add a dollop of pie filling on individual servings.

Bon appétit!